Brad Smith
Planning your next vacation? Here's a list of some of the new luxury hotels and resorts opening around the world to help you decide where to stay.
A lavish resort along the coast of Dhofar, the Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara offers a refreshing getaway amidst the romance and history of Oman. Flanked by a natural lagoon and beach, the resort's distinct Middle Eastern design was inspired by the regions traditional coastal fortresses. Celebrated for its luxurious resort and Hotel Chains, Anantara's new resort features 136 stunning guest rooms and studios, as well as one, two and three bedroom villas with private pools. Each room is decorated with handcrafted furnishings and rich textures, and is equipped with modern comforts including LED TVs, luxurious bath products, a mini bar and spacious walk-in dressing rooms. The villas are separated by walkways, lined with palms, tropical gardens and opulent water features, creating a magnificently, relaxed atmosphere. Ideal for leisure travellers with a passion for culture and history, the resort is located near the Botanical Garden and Museum of Frankincense, as well as the Al Baleed Archaeological Park.
PER AQUUM hotel and resorts has recently added a new luxury villa to its Desert Palm resort in Dubai. The exclusive Villa LAYALI, a three bedroom, 845-sqm villa hides amongst tall palm trees in the location of the hotel's original royal villa. Guests arrive through a private entrance paved with Jordanian stone and adorned by water features and lush manicured gardens. High gates enclose the villa gardens and a 60-sqm swimming pool. The three bedroom villa features the hotel's Avant-garde design and is equipped with every conceivable luxury imagined to satisfy guests' desires.
After the successful launch of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort late last year, the Minor Hotels Group is already set to launch another luxury resort off Sri Lanka's beautiful southwest coast. The Anantara Kalutara Resort will offer guests a unique coastal hideaway boasting a peaceful location between the beachfront and the Kalu River and lagoon, when it opens in October 2016. Inspired by the simplistic elegant architectural designs of the late Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's most renowned architect, the 141 guest rooms, suites and pool villas fuse contemporary luxury with traditional Sri Lankan accents. Surrounded by tropical gardens, swaying coconut palms and a secluded shoreline, the new resort looks set to impress.
Avani Hotels and Resorts looks ready to set new benchmarks in the leisure industry with its latest hotel. Set on the banks of the mighty Chao Praya River, the Avani Bangkok Riverside blends a unique combination of traditional hotel experience with a freedom that allows guests to move around as they please. Due to launch in September 2016, the 248 rooms, which include 20 suites, feature large windows that offer spectacular views of the river and city skyline, while sliding wooden panels allow guests to open up their bathrooms to create one large area, or close them for privacy.
